CHAPTER VII. 



STRIKING AND PLAYING. 



CONSIDERABLE discussion has taken place in the 

 angling papers from time to time as to the proper 

 time for striking a fish ; and three or four years 

 since some extraordinary calculations were made 

 with regard to the period that should elapse before 

 striking, and for the motion from the arm to reach 

 the hook. My opinion, as expressed in the "Angler's 

 J ournal ' ' at that time, and lately repeated in ' ' Fishing, ' ' 

 is as follows : " As soon as you become aware, either 

 by sight, sound, or feeling, that a fish has risen, put 

 the hook in him." But you must be careful not to 

 strike too hard, or you will either tear the hook out, 

 or snap the gut, and thus lose the fish. It should 

 only be a slight twitch, given from the wrist, as quick 

 as thought, just enough to drive the hook in beyond 

 the barb, but not enough to tear the flesh out. I 

 have often amused myself by feeding trout, and have 

 noticed that, after they have taken several pieces, 

 say of bread or paste, if I threw in something like it 

 in appearance, such, for instance, as a small white 

 stone, they would seize it, and, finding the substance 

 different, instantly blow it out again. It is reason- 

 able to assume that they would do the same with an 

 artificial fly, particularly those having cork bodies ; 

 therefore you cannot strike too quickly. But, as this 



